The health trends statistics and numbers of lifestyle and chronic diseases in the U.S. are startling and you expect that for a nation with so much sophistication the reverse should be the case. One in four Americans has suffered from a lifestyle disease and one in six Americans presently has a chronic illness they are struggling with. This then begs the question of the efficacy of the healthcare quality such numbers are struggling with illnesses.
A recent survey carried out showed that about 52% of people no longer trust the healthcare’s ability to alleviate illnesses specifically the pharmaceutical companies. The growing widespread notion about these companies is that they are more profit-oriented than people-oriented. But beyond this is the essential truth that drugs might not be the best solution to some illnesses. And this is dawning on the American populace at an alarming rate.
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So you might be wondering, so then what are they turning to when orthodox medicine doesn’t seem to prefer long term solution? The answer is holistic health or alternative medicine. This is the focus on the use of natural products and methods to bring healing and improve overall well-being. Holistic health focuses not just on alleviating the current symptoms of the illness but addressing the root cause and ensuring that they do not recur. This is why so many Americans are subscribing to it.
Not only that but the success rate recorded by holistic health has been impressive as it has effectively reduced the pain of those who use it for pain-related issues and being highly effective for other illnesses like obesity, diabetes, cancer, etc. We would be highlighting the biggest holistic health trends markets as they haven’t been mainstream and the implications of these trends on our immediate world.
Ayurvedic Medicine
This is an old Indian form of medicine that is focused on improving good health. It is based on the health and wellness principle that the body, mind, and spirit. One of the many advantages of holistic health is that it can be tailored to an individual’s health needs. This holistic health believes that there has to be a balance between the universe and humans. It also holds the belief that humans are made up of five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space. The combination of these elements forms what is known as doshas, life energy.
There are three doshas namely Vata dosha(space and air), Pitta dosha(fire and water), Kapha dosha and they control various body functions. The Vata dosha is considered to be the most powerful and is responsible for blood flow, heart function, breathing, and cell division. If it is an individual’s main life force illnesses the person can develop is anxiety, asthma, heart disease among others. The Pitta dosha is responsible for digestion and metabolism and individuals who have this as their life’s main energy source are more susceptible to Crohn’s disease and infections.
The Kapha dosha controls body balance, muscles, weight, and immune system. Those who have this as their life energy are more susceptible to diabetes and obesity.
With this background, it is easy to understand how ayurvedic medicine helps people, the take to account the physical and emotional health of the individual in tandem with their life energy. It has been highly effective as a treatment for chronic pain, and diabetes, which are two of America’s biggest illnesses. Some herbs used include Ashwagandha, Boswelia, Brahmi, Cumin among others.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is another holistic health market that has grown ever so popular among people. It is an ancient traditional Chinese medicine method that involves the inserting of needles into specific acupuncture points in people’s bodies to help relax muscles, tissues and alleviate pain. These needles are heated before use and are used alongside herbs. There are up to 2000 acupuncture points in the body connected by meridians. Meridians are pathways in the body that energy flows through.
Acupuncture has been used over time and been effective to relieve pain, stress, headache, eye strain, improves the immune system, allergy relief, increased energy among other things. Its usefulness also extends to the treatment of biliary colic, depressive neurosis, stroke, dysentery, and dysmenorrhea.
Homeopathy
This is an alternative therapy that believes the body can heal itself and it uses natural herbs and minerals to speed up the healing process. It has been used to treat allergies, dermatitis, arthritis, and muscle strain. Whole bees, arnica, onions, and many more plants and substances are mixed together by a homeopath with alcohol or water to form a potion that is given to the patient based on the presented symptoms.
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Dieting
This is one health trends that has been overlooked but its effect as sure been one of America’s biggest undoings, diabetes, and obesity. Refined sugar, high carbohydrate, and processed foods have been identified as the biggest culprit and people are now switching to healthier options such as vegetables, fiber, wheat, and lean protein for a healthier life.
CBD(Cannabidiol)
CBD is one of the two most abundant compounds found in the cannabis plant. This compound is a non-psychoactive compound that is highly medicinal as it has no symptom of dependence in its users and is mainly found in hemp plants. CBD is highly effective in treating strong epileptic cases in children such as Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome which can’t be treated with anti-seizure drugs. It is also used to treat anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, especially neuropathic and inflammatory pain which is usually the most dreaded.
The importance of this substance has been caught on by the U.S. government and has led to the establishment of a medical marijuana program across several states where patients after registering can have access to this drug. To be qualified, all you need to do is to get an appointment with a holistic medicine doctor who will verify the presence of a qualifying condition that enables you to apply.